187-10014-10109 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |

JFK Assassination System Date: 7/8/2015
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v9.4

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Agency Information

SSCIA
157-10014-10109

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITITEE

07-M-15

Document Information

SSCIA

06/25/1975
19

HARVEY, WILLIAM
ZRRIFLE /
OPERATION MONGOOSE

REPORT
Declassified
1B; 1C
Redact
03/08/2000

CCBOX 418

Page 1

Date
Page

08/06/95_
1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM
IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY

RECORD NUMBER
RECORDS SERIES
AGENCY FILE NUMBER

AGENCY INFORMATION

: SSCIA

: 157-10014-10109

: MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTTEE
> O7-M-15

ORIGINATOR
FROM

TO

TITLE

DATE

PAGES
SUBJECTS

DOCUMENT TYPE
CLASSIFICATION
RESTRICTIONS
CURRENT STATUS

DATE OF LAST REVIEW
OPENING CRITERIA
COMMENTS

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

SSCIA

06/25/75
19
HARVEY, WILLIAM

OPERATION MONGOOSE

ZRRIFLE

REPORT

TOP SECRET

REFERRED

POSTPONED IN FULL -
01/05/99

o6 a0 86 68 Be oe oe

CCBOX 418

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(R] ~ ITEM IS RESTRICTED

Page 2

ct

ea


AGENDA

TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE oN INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

10:00 A, M, ON JUNE 25, 1975 IN 457 RUSSELL BUILDING

UNVENT] Di
es

:

Testimony by Mr. William Harvey

ax

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Biographical

-Late January

TOP SECRET

WILLIAM HARVEY

Short Chronology*

i9ho-W7 - - Counterespionage work as FBI agent
1947 | Joined CIA as head of Soviet Intelligence Branch
1948 Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Special ©
Operations (which became DDP)
| 1952 Chief of Station, Berlin (Berlin Tunnel operation)
| a ‘ ;
\ 1959 Became Chief of Foreign Intelligence staff Division
D (FI/D) which handles communications intelligence
| and sensitive methods of obtaining it (e.g.,
: surreptitious entries)
1960
August 16 DR. EDWARD GUNN (Office of Medical Services)
receives box of Cuban cigars to be treated with
lethal poison. (21)
i
t
1961

EDWARDS and O'CONNELL ask for development of

(approx.) | POISON PILLS. (2h)
February BISSELL (DDP) asks HARVEY to establish an EXECUTIVE
_ (approx. ) . ACTION capability under project ZRRIFLE. Harvey's

notes are quoted as saying that Bissell said he
had been "twice urged by the White House” to
establish such a capability. (37) Harvey is
priefed, probably by both BISSELL and EDWARDS, on
the Phase I assassination plot run by Sheffield
EDWARDS and James O'CONNELL (Office of Security)
which involved criminal syndicate connections. (37)

HARVEY uses agent QJWIN (recruited earlier by
ARNOLD SILVER for use in an assassination operation
against LUMUMBA) as the principle asset for ZRRIFLE.
(38)

Edwards has the POISON PILLS tested. (25)

* Page references in parentheses are from the 1967 Report of the Inspector
General of the CIA.

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1961 (cont'd)

_ Early Feb.
Late Feb.

March-Early April

Mid-April

November 15

November 29
1962
February

February 7

' February 19

April 8-9

to April 14

April 18-19

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TOP SECRET

According to Dr, GUNN, HARVEY asked about the

pills he tested. Gunn briefed Harvey, who told

him to brief SIDNEY GOTTLIEB about techniques -
but not targets. (27)

Pills given to ROSELLI by O'CONNELL are passed

_ to TRAFFICANTE, (27) ROSELLI reports to O'CONNELL
that pills reached ORTA in Cuba. ORTA returns

pills in couple weeks. (27)

O'CONNELL.. gives, pills and money to ROSELLI who
passes them to VARONA. (32)

Bay of Pigs invasion fails; JFK appoints Taylor
Committee. .

Beginning of PHASE II: BISSELL instructs HARVEY to
apply the ZRRIFLE assassination capability to ..
Castro. (39) Harvey takes over the criminal syndicate
contacts developed in Phase I. (39) HARVEY is told

by HELMS that he is to take over the CIA Cuba

task force. (39)

MC CONE replaces Allen Dulles as DCI

EDWARDS briefs HARVEY on Castro operation. (40)

EDWARDS meets with FBI to ask them not to prosecute
the Rowan wiretap case because of CIA concern. (60)

HELMS (DDP nominee) authorizes HARVEY to handle
ZRRIFLE project with unvouchered funds. (38) .

HARVEY, ROSELLI, O'CONNELL, and perhaps MAHEU meet
in New York to plan Phase II. (43) (Harvey disputes
O'Connell's recollection that Maheu was there and
knowledgeable of Phase II.) Both Edwards and
Harvey check with HELMS before the meeting is ©
arranged and HARVEY obtains Helm's approval not to
brief MC CONE (41). Harvey thereafter begins
regular reporting to Helms on. Phase II. (41)

HARVEY, ROSELLI, and O'CONNELL meet in Miami. (46)

Pills are delivered to Harvey in Washington. (46)


April 21

May 7

May 14

mess penetycegnnat oe wre secrarnes coun engorgement spmmtatan inten Smee te ee ae at intent ee te a

June 21

August 10

August 13

Late April

1962 (cont'd)

Throughout May —

TOP SECRET

HARVEY passes the pills to ROSELLI in Florida. (47)
Roselli was to give the pills to Varona, who had an
asset in Cuba with access to Castro's restaurant.

At this point Roselli is using Tony VARONA and
"MACEO" as contacts with Cuba rather than Trafficante.

©. (47-8)

HARVEY, with help of Ted SHACKLEY (Chief of JMWAVE
station in Miami), loaded arms and equipment in a
U-Haul truck which was left in a parking lot for
Roselli, who delivered it to a Cuban contact. (49- 50)

Intense contact between HARVEY and ROSELLI. Roselli
reports that pills are in Cuba at the restaurant
frequented by Castro awaiting the opportunity to
use them. (50)

EDWARDS and HOUSTON brief ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT F.
KENNEDY on PHASE I of the assassination operation. (62a)*

Edwards tells HARVEY of.the briefing of RFK. (65)
Harvey says that he briefed HELMS about this and
advised against briefing McCone (DCI) or Carter
(DDCI); Helms agreed. (65

HARVEY is told by EDWARDS that the "tacit approval"
of the DCI should be obtained if Roselli was to be
used any further. (65) Harvey ‘told Edwards that _
Roselli would not be used any more. (According to
Edwards’ memorandum of 5/14/62.) (42)

ROSELLI tells HARVEY that VARONA has sent three men

to Cuba to recruit others for the pill plot. (51)

Special Group (Augmented) meets on OPERATION MONGOOSE.
HARVEY and MC CONE said that McNAMARA raised the

subject of assassinations at this meeting in regard

to new plans.

General LANSDALE'S memorandum assigns to HARVEY the
drafting of an outline of intelligence, political,
economic, and paramilitary activities for the
implementation of MONGOOSE. The task includes |
planning for "splitting the regime, including liguida-
tion of leaders".

* RFK asks to be told before the CIA works with the Mafia again. (62a)

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Page Tf


“1962 (cont'a)

oes ene MONON: ean GR eR Ae AON NI ttn mae ce

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August 14

September

October
1963

February

June

August 16

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Page 6

TOP SECRET

_ HARVEY writes a memorandum to DDP HELMS saying

that he advised Lansdale's aide FRANK HAND to

excise the words "including liquidation of leaders”. |
from the LANSDALE memo because of "the inadmissibility
and stupidity of putting this type of comment in
writing in such @ document"; Harvey also tells Helms
that he has "careful notes" on MC NAMARA'S discussion
of assassination at the Special Group meeting of
August 10.

Pills still in place; HARVEY learns that VARONA is
ready to send another team to Cuba. (51)

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

HARVEY and ROSELLI agree in Los Angeles to call off
the operation, although not to break precipitously .
with VARONA. (52)

‘HARVEY and ROSELLI have last dinner in Washington

and are observed by SAM PAPICH of the FBI, who has
ROSELLI under intensive surveillance. Harvey asks
Papich to let him know if HOOVER is going to call
MC CONE. (53~4) Harvey briefs Helms and Helms

agrees not to brief McCone unless it appears that
McCone will receive a call from Hoover. (54):

Spurred by a Chicago newspaper story of the same
day, HELMS sends MC CONE the Edwards memo of 5/14/62 _
of the RFK briefing. (69)


Ma i daa Be

A
fae
ba
,

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v
co

ry
FOLTB re 0 oe my cet ss urmnnee Ue at ORTON seb ery tS 8h ste

SR cater lll ata. oat ate atime oA tae
et .

| INVENT ORIED:

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD: |

SUBJECT: John Rosselli.” ee, BX nA

1, In early April Mr. William Harvey asked me to arrange
a contact with Subject. The meeting in New York City was’ arranged .
for 9 April. I explained to Mr. Harvey that the undersigned would

‘take no part in future operations proposed for Subject. -

2. Inthe interim I have kept Mr. ‘Harvey fully informed | .
reference to my briefing of The Attorney General on the former —

project and cautioned him that I felt that any future projects of © ~ _ : | -
' this nature should have the tacit a roval of the Director of ral ay ,
Intelligence. a oe oo ;

3 On this date Mr. Harvey called me and indicated that
he was dropping any plans for the use of Subject for the future,

She! Poe niet ds

“ Director of Security ©


i oo, ; — -
Bo wed rh et ae rte Noe ee a

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON 25, D.C,

| a OC 13 August 1962

boos MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM HARVEY, CIA

° i ROBERT HURWITCH, STATE. :
CEN. BENJAMIN HARRIS, DEFENSE <————X_
LON WILSON, USIA

From: Brig. Gen. Lansdale Sh

Subject: Alternate Course B

®

.In compliance with the desires and guidance expressed in the
10 August policy meeting on Operation Mongoose, we will produce.
an outline of an alternate Course B for submission, The CIA paper.
“Operational Plan (Reduced Effor will be used as the starting
basia.

Since this 1s to be a bare outline, to permit further policy
i ; guidance to be develoncc, I Lolicewe the paper need contain oaly
i a statement of objectives acd a list of implementing activities.
7 ‘The lst of activities will be undcoz the headings of: Intelligence,
Political, Economic, FPaychciczical, Paramilitary, and Military. |

Ve will hold an Ofevaticnunl Representatives work scssisn in
7 my office, at 1400 nours, Teerdy, 14 August, to complete the
7 outline paper for submics: Toc Ok you is to bring 5 copies of -
completed assigned work 13 this wurk eessioa, to permit each of
us to work from a full sel of Cruiis.

’

Papers required fvors cacn of you for the Tuesday meeting:

veical (eplittins the regime,
wnomic (sabotage, limites
any guerre estions for inclusioa

_ . Harve Intollivones, Ts
a: — ——

pO “ deception), and Paramiiivocy.
. in other sections of the 20 cre

Mr. Hurwitch: Sioto rol ol Sicectives, Political, ane
Economic. Algo, any us. digas lar inclusion ia other sections
of the paper.

; . ‘ Demmeeeie see ae Sen

i
anal

Aang Bee | . DOES HO? A.

SE EMCEE En ga i a

of 3S - hers : | ! SLING ane socunens con? 2ins
og tert, L... a : Perera

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COL. :. Boke

ox Di 62 Ha


A MN RAE ae EOL GPT HN ae Eo

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was brought up by Secretary McNamara at the meeting of the

‘he agreed and that he had done so, . 7 ,

~ ~~ ae ELS EX De

4 . , }

- aaa? = 22 i

Sen ee | Pet earey xy © /15 en |

Semeites ways i

pee hie is Cy 7.
CEQSEEVE 9 00 TER RS

MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director (Plans)

SUBJECT > Operation MONGOOSE

1. Action, None. This memorandum is for your information,
2. Reference is made to our conversation on 13 August 1962,
concerning the memorandum of that date from General Lansdale,
Attached is a copy of this memorandum, excised from which are
four words in the second line of the penultimate paragraph on
page 1. These four words were "including. liquidation of leaders. "

3. The question of assassination, particularly of Fidel Castro,

Special Group (Augmented) in Secretary Rusk's oifice on 10 August.
It was the obvious consensus at that meeting, in answer toa
comment by Mr. Ed Murrow, that this is not a subject which

has been made a matter of official record, I took careful notes on
the comments at this meeting on this point, and the Special Group
(Augmented) is not expecting any written comments or study on
this point. :

4. ‘Upon receipt of the attached memorandum, I called
Lansdale's office and, in his absence, pointed out to Frank Hand -
the inadmissibility and stupidity of putting this type of comment in
writing in sucha document. I advised Frank Hand that, as far
as CIA was concerned, we would write no document pertaining to
this and would participate in no open meeting discussing it,
I strongly urged Hand to recommend to Lansdale that he excise en ©
the phrase in question from all copies of this memorandum, in-.
cluding those disseminated to State, Defense, and USIA, Shortly
thereafter, Lansdale called back and left the message that

ie

CEL AA its
leeo eaves .
Cts Gat u

«

- ena
¢ : er 4
. ete
ela Seled
Cal Re iia a

Bia aE ae
snc hie

5. For your information also, in your absence and Since -
the attached memorandum already had been distributed and in.
' view of the possibility that this might come to the Director's —

‘ . . . . - : -

WILLIAM K. HARVEY

_ Chief, Task Force W_
| Attachment - ST
i Memo fr Gen Lansdale dtd 13 Aug 62

i .

i : ;
|
| ;

i

po. :

i.

|

H

i

HY 50955 DocTd:32423497 Page 12 -

. attention, I informally briefed Walt Elder onthe above. a

Neen

SECRET 7 a 4

; Project ZRRIFLE_

l, Identification: The purpose of Project ZRRIFLE is to spot,
develop, and use agent assets for Division D operations. ‘Agents will be
spotted in several areas, ‘including the United States, but for operational
security reasons will probably not be used in their countries of residence.
Present developmental activity is being conducted in the WE and EE areas,
but it is anticipated that this will be extended to other division areas. , The
project will be operated against third-country installations and personnel.

2. “Objectives: The objective of this project is the procurement of
code and cipher materials, and information concerning such materials,

in accordance with requirements levied on the Clandestine Services,
primarily by the National Security Agency. Since these réquirements are
subject to frequent revision, no listing of targets would be valid for the
“duration of the project, Specific operations will be mounted on the basis of
need and opportunity. The project will be conducted by Division D with
assistance from area divisions and stations as needed. -

3. Background : In response to the increasing requirements for the
operational procurement of foreign code and cipher materials, Division D
in 1960 began the spotting of agent assets as a developmental activity.
During the same period requirements from NSA became more refined and in

many respects more sensitive, Because most stations are not equipped to

‘conduct this type of operation and because of the desirability of completely

NATIONSL SECURITY INFORMATION _ . 2A 1818 dectesit emt tr
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to C ae D PT an exempilon schedu'e 5
Criminal Sanctions. hu Automaticaily dec's

HW 50955 Docld: 32423497 Page 13

wevnrcl
control over this entire effort, it was determined that Division D, which is
in closest touch with NSA on procurement requirements, could best conduct the
‘activity. The spotting activity has now advanced far enough to justify
removing from the OOA category.
4, Operational Assets: |
a) Personnel: QIWIN is under’ written contract as a principal
agent, with the primary task of spotting agent candidates. QIWIN was first
contacted in 1958 through the Chief of the Luxembourg I.S. by the Chief of
Station, Luxembourg, in connection with an illegal narcotics operation into
the United States. For a period of a year and a half he was contacted
sporadically by cos, Luxembourg, in behalf of the Bureau of Marcotics.

Files of this Bureau reflect an excellent performance by QJWIN. In

October 1960,

“RECEIVED FROM

win 24 1915

secreT —i(‘<éséA

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CA
Tis
a>
20
ck
—

|
|
QIWIN annual salary: : ; $ 7, 200 | - .
Travel & ops expenses for QJWIN & —_
other agents & agent condidates: 2,000 .
Fees for services by and standby of agents |
and agent candidates: . . 7 2,000
Travel of staff employees engaged in
ARRIFLE activity: 2,500
Hire of safehouses, automobiles and other ;
operational expenses:. © . . . 1, 000
a $14, 700
Pay for agents on completion of jobs? .
1) Legal, ethical-morale, operational problems; political: non-attributability,
2)) Our own experience (Bangkok) (and effect on DDP) and experiences with
KGB (Crossup, Bandera groups, Khokhlov) - require most professional,
proven operationally competent, ruthless, stable, CE-experienced ops
officers (few available), ‘able to conduct patient search and with guts to
: pull back if instinct or knowledge tells him he should, and w/known high
regard for operational security, Assessments are all-important.
3) Maximum security:
a, Kubark only (e. Bes what does Siragusa now know? ); no approach
to other Government agencies,
b. Within dubark, one focal point for control, search, training

case officering, etc, DDP authority in this focal point mandeREPEIVED FROM
Qn 24 1975
SECRET | Cla

rary

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SEGRET 7

} ‘DCI officially advised?

c, Max. security cable commo for innocuous cables only; no
; restrictions on travel; possibility of one-man overseas (Europe) control
base with own (non-Station) commo, “Word of mouth and no bashfulness

re trips.

d. No PA's (except for search) or intermediaries; rigid | case-.
_ officering, from start to finish,
e. No approach to officials of foreign governments,

'f, No use of any agent who ever worked for a U.S. Government agency.
Training by opposition would . .
| . 7 g. Use of already tested assets {e.g., Manuel in the search,
: h. Stand-by list of Rubarkers who can pass as foreigners.
_ i, Pretext: Kutube/D search; this established (e.g., Rome).

j. No discussions in Stations.

k. No "team" until ready to go, if at all.
4) Blackmail: .
a. No American citizens or residents or people who ever obtained
U.S. visa.
b. No chain of connections: strictly person to person; singleton ops.
c. No meeting any. candidate in house territory.
d, Exclude organization criminals (e.g., Sicilians) those with record

of arrests, those with instability of purpose as criminals. . a

, RECEIVED FROM

aAN 24 1975

SECRET GIA

Linea nde mae ese meinen gama A mn

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SEOKEA

e, Staffers -selection,

5) Cover: planning should include provision for blaming Sovs or Czechs

in case of blow.
forged and backdated, Should look like a CE file.

blackmail.
8) Former resistance personnel a possibility,

f 9) Use }ibady nobody who has ever dealt with criminals;

to travel, wanted lists, etc.
10) Possible use of staffers for the action, |

ll) Silverthorne,

Keeping of files,

CRET

rei

S

HY 50855 ‘Docld: 32423497 Page i7

7) Testing of moninees essential: re following directions, security,

6) Should have phoney 201 in RI to backstop this, all documents therein

otherwise will not be aware of pitfalls or consider factors suchas freedom

SECRET

Freedom to travel

. ; ; Khokhlov case.
Legal, operational & ethical-morale problems.

1) Maximu security & within Kubark only (e.g., how much doés Siragusa
i ~ new know? ). imitation on number code clerks for enciph
| deciphering. Guise of Louvide objection. Siglen not sefure enough.

2) One focal point or search, control, training, ¢ se-officer & PA
selection. Complete RDP authority in this foca//point mandatory, Overseas

|

{ one-man control base with own (non-Station) £ommo.,

i

3) Every operation to be rt idly case -offjeered; no silk-shirt PA's.
4) Non-attributability: NoA itizens or American residents for
direct action; possibly for approachAo foreign elements. No criminal who
tainted by use by another Ameri agency, Use of case officers who can
pass as foreigners -- and lim} ed offixial reference.

5) No chain of connections permitting blackmail.

6) Don't meet any selectér in house territoxy.

i 7) Avoid discussion w/foreign officials until

1 possibility of search
through private citizens (e.g., QUWIN) has been wamined.

8) Planning shoul include provision for blaming S viets (or Czechs)
in case of blow. '/4 above essential.

9) Exclude organization criminals, those with record of arrests, those

who have engaged in several types of crime,

i
i

RECEIVED F7
IN 24 1975

GIA

ede mandennene Seite ones SIM BRED Bare NY

SECRET

HW 50955 Docld:32423497 Page 18

10) Corsicans rec

ll) Former resistan

13) All Kubark personnel
14) Silverthorne & stable in
15) What are limits on team
ready to go,

16) Danger of Standbys.

ate vrei net nd Sot SORRY EOE atte tect nRh All te TE EC ONIN STAN eee mE

HW 50955 DociId: 32423497 Page 19

SECRET

12) Period of testing, s rveillance, ete, for each

volved should have

or individuals

SECRET

mended. Sicilians could lead to/Mafia,

personnel offer possibilitiey, (OSS archives, )

‘selectee,

ome CE experience.

elected? No''team!" until

oat

SECRET

Scd G- 25f a Exec Actions
"The Magic Button"
Narcotics Bureau

"for a living!" RIS 201 cover

Ae aS eh eRMImMRT a nee eget

caution - Bankruptcy -- No star eyes -Jim A. Contradestinct from U-2
Not a TSD problem —

Apply brakes
Last resort beyond last resort & a confession of weakness.

.-El Benefactor -- assumptions . ;
Examples of 3 "wrong"

Framework of Sid's job. _ Ledford
Ehut R&D - memo.

"Translating machines" - of E basic sounds project.
pherious - (V with CB) .

ee EENnnnA

comment - Gear

Anathesia --

A

: 26f. -- AS -- Fanforn - DCI Matter
; . . _ No file _ .
i ; . Never mentions word assassination,
Select proper oern to run --

1,

2, Place a cover Max aso

3, Security Rules B - WKH - AS-

4, Guide leves ; Sid - Reserv.

5. Last Resort - Brakes - ; Substitute - What next

6. Noother agencies 4
7, No projects or papers except per cover. Wie fy
8. Principal agent ‘(Mankel) ? * oe of RECEWED FROM

AF - Project draft LCH tested 1500 - from NB.°* _ a
Mask spat rqm. stall AF project -,cler Dbieke | 2A 1975

SECRET =si(‘itsé«CAA

HW 50955 Docld:32493497 Page 20

SECRET

9. Disposal -- ;
10. Targets who & where -- Must know before we can spot --
ll, Case officering :

12, Cover file - create to provide RIS or akbetobel it, - non Sov’
13. Note dangers of RIS counter action and monitor if they are
blamed -
Fd J list - Remember

RECEIVED FRI

ao 24 1975

CIA

peace mneen —* a

Cs
rr]
cD
mu
ae

HW 50955 Docld: 32423497 Page 21

